New Hampshire

New Hampshire is one of the most uniquely beautiful areas in northern New England. Known for its scenic beauty, New Hampshire features breathtaking mountains, clear lakes and pristine ocean beaches. It's commonly referred to as the Granite State because it has so many natural quarries and granite formations.

Individuals who live in New Hampshire enjoy the beauty of the four seasons, the ease of navigating between major cities and the pleasures of both city and small town life. New Hampshire offers skiing, hiking, boating and a wide array of outdoor activities that keep even the most ardent outdoor enthusiasts busy throughout the year.

Residents enjoy one of the lowest tax burdens in the country. In fact, the state has no income or sales tax. New Hampshire also boasts a high per-capita income, high education level and one of the lowest crime rates in the country. So, it's no surprise that New Hampshire was recently named the "2005 Most Livable State" by Morgan Quinto's State Rankings. You'll be delighted with the benefits and rewards of living in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire at a Glance      [back to top]

Real Estate

Search for real estate in New Hampshire by visiting the Northern New England Real Estate Network at www.nneren.com.

State Taxes

Information on New Hampshire's inheritance, interest and dividends income, excise and other taxes is available at www.state.nh.us/revenue.

Geographic Size & Location

New Hampshire is the country's seventh smallest state and is approx. 9,351 square miles in size. New Hampshire is bordered on the north by the Canadian providence of Quebec; on the east by Maine; on the south by Massachusetts; and on the west by Vermont.

Climate

New Hampshire has a highly changeable climate and wide variations in seasonable temperatures. Temperatures are affected by proximity to the ocean, mountains, lakes and rivers. Average monthly temperatures range from a high of 82.6 degrees in the summer to a low of 9 degrees in the winter.

Most Populated/Urban Areas of the State

Central and southern New Hampshire from Concord to the Massachusetts border is the most populated area of the state. This area includes the state's three largest cities: Manchester (pop. 105,221), Nashua (pop. 83,209) and Portsmouth (pop. 23,100).

Recreational Activities

The four seasons provide New Hampshire residents with a wide-range of recreational opportunities that include boating, biking, hiking, fishing and skiing and ice-skating. New Hampshire is an outdoor lovers dream. The state has 1,300 lakes or ponds and nearly 40 rivers with a total mileage of approximately 41,800 miles.

School Information

The New Hampshire Department of Education provides detailed school district highlights, assessment scores, pupil expenditures and graduation data. For detailed information on the performance of New Hampshire's schools, visit www.asme.com/nhprofile.

New Hampshire Links      [back to top]

These links will provide you with more facts about the benefits of living and working in New Hampshire:

www.nh.com
www.nhparks.state.nh.us
www.nh.gov
www.nhoutdoors.com

Primary Care Links

These links will provide you with information on healthcare in New Hampshire:

www.bistatepca.org (BiState Primary Care Association)
www.nhms.org (NH Medical Society)
www.npweb.org (NH Nurse Practitioner Association)
www.state.nh.us/nursing (NH Board of Nursing)
www.nhha.org (NH Hospital Association)
www.nh-spa.org (NH Association of Physician Assistants)
www.dartmouth.edu (NH Area Health Education Center at Dartmouth Medical School
www.dhhs.state.nh.us (NH Office of Rural Health and Primary Care)

Working to Improve Oral Health Care in NH     [back to top]

Although New Hampshire is one of the country's wealthiest and healthiest states, a significant number of residents suffer from oral health diseases. Many Granite State children and adults lack access to even the most basic dental services that are essential to preventing dental decay, infection, tooth loss and other oral health problems. The barriers to oral care include lack of dental insurance, cost of care, lack of public programs and a shortage of dentists and dental hygienists.

Recently, Bi-State Primary Care embarked on two projects to make an impact on this important issue. The first is a comprehensive research project that examines New Hampshire's oral health workforce. The second is an outreach program that focuses on engaging experienced dentists to help recruit new dentists into New Hampshire.

A Report on the Granite State's Oral Health Providers

In spring 2005, Bi-State Primary Care conducted extensive research to gain insights into trends, recruitment, retention issues and practice characteristics affecting the state of oral care in New Hampshire. Along with our efforts, this comprehensive project was made possible through the dedication and cooperation of the New Hampshire Dental Society, New Hampshire Dental Hygienists' Association and with generous support provided by the Endowment for Health and Northeast Delta Dental.

The result of our extensive research is "A Report on the State of New Hampshire's Dental and Dental Hygiene Workforce". Here are some of the report's highlights:

As of 2003, 890 dentists and 1,055 dental hygienists served a population of 1.26 million people, including 232,906 school-aged children in the Granite State.

• New Hampshire has a higher ratio of dentists per capita than the national average, and scores fourth in the six-state New England region.
• According to national health workforce projections, the number of dentists is likely to decline, while New Hampshire's population is expected to increase. This creates concerns regarding future access to dental care for New Hampshire residents in communities throughout the state.
• The scarcity of education and training programs in the state exacerbates the oral health workforce shortage. Therefore, the state relies heavily on recruiting dentists from out-of-state training programs. Bi-State Primary Care and the New Hampshire Dental Society have launched a program aimed at encouraging dental students to practice in the state (see below for details).
• Use of oral health services, particularly for regular, preventive care, is strongly correlated with income, education and access to health insurance.

If you'd like a copy of A Report on the State of New Hampshire's Dental and Dental Hygiene Workforce, please contact the Recruitment Center.

New Hampshire Dentist Ambassador Program

Bi-State Primary Care recently joined forces with the New Hampshire Dental Society to introduce an exciting initiative aimed at developing the oral health workforce in New Hampshire. The program recruits local Dentist Ambassadors to visit New England dental schools to promote the practice of dentistry in New Hampshire and offer support as the students transition into practice. Because New Hampshire doesn't have a dental school of its own, the initiative plays an important role to support the recruitment of the future generation of dentists to care for New Hampshire residents.  The NH Dentist Ambassadors are located throughout the state, representing rural, public health and private dental practices. 

For more information on the NH Dentist Ambassador Program, contact Susan Carll, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator by telephone at 603-228-2830 x116 or by e-mail at scarll@bistatepca.org.

Oral Health Links       [back to top]

These links will provide you with more information on oral health in New Hampshire:

NH Dental Society - www.nhds.org
NH Board of Dental Examiners - www.nh.gov/dental

Northeast Delta Dental - www.nedelta.com
NH Dental Hygienists' Association – http://nhdentalhygiene.org/